John Patrick Rogers
John Patrick "JR" Rogers died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, in a local healthcare facility after a long illness.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; four children; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
At the convenience of the family, a celebration of life Mass will take place at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Jupiter, Fla., followed by a memorial service with military honors at Jupiter Elks Club.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the VA Hospital in Biloxi, Miss.
"God's finger touched him and he slept."
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is entrusted with arrangements.
John W. DeWitt Sr.
John W. "Johnnie" DeWitt Sr., age 79, died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2002, at Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville, Fla., after an illness.
Mr. DeWitt was born in Pamplico, S.C., the son of the late Cordie W. and Zelma Farley Haines DeWitt. He was retired from the U.S. Navy as a master chief petty officer. Mr. DeWitt served on the USS Tennessee one week prior to Pearl Harbor and then was on the Marblehead. During World War II, he served in the Pacific, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and also the Normandy Invasion.
He served in Korea, Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in the Gulf of Tonkin during Vietnam. Prior to retirement he was chief master of arms of the Anti Submarine Warfare Base in San Diego, Calif.
Surviving are a daughter, Dawn Celeste Bellanca of Arcadia, Calif.; son, John W. "Jack" DeWitt Jr. of Florence, S.C.; grandson, Martin Connaly of Los Angeles; brother, Willys James "Jimmy" DeWitt of Lake City, S.C.; three half-sisters, Marilyn D. (Lenair) Altman and Sybil D. (Jimmy) Bennett, both of Georgetown, S.C., and Nora D. (Johnny) Cates of Dallas; and a companion, Barbara Still of Freeport, Fla.
Mr. DeWitt was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn Foster DeWitt; his second wife, Carey P. DeWitt; sisters, Dorothy Daniels, Mollie Brown and Kitty Hyman; brother, Charles Beale "CB" DeWitt; and stepmother, Lenora DeWitt Huggins.
Graveside services will be held at noon Friday, Feb. 15, at Mount Elim Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery in Pamplico, S.C., with full military honors.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Humane Society in Florence, 1007 Stockade drive, Florence, SC 29506; or to the American Cancer Society, 950-48th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.
Brockington Funeral Home, Lake City, S.C., is in charge of arrangements.
Beverly Adams Rhodes
Beverly Adams Rhodes, age 64, born Dec. 3, 1937, in Denison, Iowa, passed away suddenly Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Beverly was a devoted and active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar and a member of the Ambassadors of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. She was a continuing student at the community college and traveled the world extensively with friends.
Beverly graduated the C.E. School of Commerce in Omaha, where she earned her secretarial degree, and was employed as a secretary at various Air Force bases from 1956 until her retirement from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 1983.
Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Charles W. "Dusty" Rhodes, U.S. Air Force retired; and by her parents, Albert and Marie Andresen Adams.
She is survived by her stepdaughter, Carroll Risk (husband Richard) of Tulsa, Okla.; brother, Albert Adams Jr. (wife Frieda) of Denison, Iowa; sister, Marilyn Petersen (husband Bernhard) of Schleswig, Iowa; grandchildren, Amy Smith (husband Mike), and Robert Risk (wife Tara); great-grandson, Ethan Smith; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar with Vicar Ray Angerman officiating. Burial will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at the funeral home.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Cynthia Leslie Hanley
Cynthia Leslie "Cindy Lou" Hanley passed away quietly in her sleep on Feb. 12, 2002, at her home.
She was born 40 years ago in Key West, Fla., and after migrating north she stopped in Tallahassee, Fla., where she attended Lincoln High School and Tallahassee Community College.
Survivors Harold C. Leslie and Winnie Leslie were her proud parents and staunchest allies; her brothers, Greg and Philip, and sister-in-law Shannon, were constantly being driven "crazy" by Cindy Lou - and wouldn't have had it any other way.
She met her husband Mike in Atlanta 13 years ago. They dated for two weeks and then were married. That was the luckiest day of his life.
She and Mike moved to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in 1990 and opened a small Buffalo Wing restaurant and were living happily ever after until her unexpected passing.
It's not hard to understand why she had so many family and friends who loved her because there never has been a more loving wife, daughter and friend. She was one-of-a-kind and she was our best friend. She woke up every day with a smile on her face and made sure to pass that smile on to those around her.
A memorial service will be held at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, at 2 p.m. Friday.
Interment will take place on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. in Tallahassee Memory Gardens.
James John Witte
James John Witte, age 52, of Pine, Colo., died Feb. 9, 2002, in Englewood, Colo.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Malamute Trail and Highway 73, in Conifer, Colo., with burial in Fort Logan National Cemetery.
He was born on April 19, 1949, in Glen Cove, N.Y. Mr. Witte was employed at Environmental Chemical Corp., and was a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant. He was a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal; and was a master explosive ordnance disposal technician.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association of Colorado, 1280 S. Parker Road, Denver, CO 80231.
Survivors include his wife, Maryann Jensen of Pine, Colo.; daughter, Amie Dwire of Salt Lake City; son, Joshua James Witte; daughter, Sarah Kathleen Witte, both of Pine; brothers, Jay Witte of Traverse City, Mich., Steve Witte of Orlando, Fla., and Robert Witte of Ashville, N.C.; grandchildren, Chloe Steidel and Fiona Dwire.
Horan and McConaty Funeral Home, Lakewood, is in charge of arrangements.
Vernon M. McAuliff
Vernon M. McAuliff, age 80, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002, in a local nursing facility.
Vernon was born in Briton, Okla., on July 29, 1921. He was a veteran of World War II and retired from Ford Motor Co. after 25 years of service. He was a resident of this area for the past seven years. He loved his leather crafts and the outdoors.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years of marriage, Rosella McAuliff of Florala, Ala.; son, Ronald Allen of Tampa, Fla.; brother, Chuck McAuliff of Michigan; one niece; and three nephews.
Funeral services will be held at McLaughlin Chapel in Crestview, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. The Rev. Donnie Cadenhead will officiate. Burial will follow in Live Oak Memorial Park Cemetery in Crestview.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Catharine D. Amoss
Catharine D. Amoss passed away Sunday, Feb. 10, 2002, at The Manor at Bluewater Bay in Niceville, Fla.
She was born in Shamokin, Pa., on Oct. 25, 1905, and lived most of her life in Buffalo, N.Y. Her husband, Walter Parke Amoss, preceded her in death.
She is survived by a niece, Catharine M. Marini (husband Lois) of Niceville; nephews, William R. Dunkelberger (wife Barbara) of Huntsville, Ala.; nephew, David L. Dunkelberger (wife Terry) of Langhorne, Pa.; and many grandnieces and nephews.
She was a longstanding member of the Central Park United Methodist Church in Buffalo; member of Katharine Pratt Horton Buffalo Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Buffalo Launch Club.
Special thanks to the staff of The Manor at Bluewater Bay for their loving care of Aunt Kit over the last five years. Also, thank you to Covenant Hospice for their comfort and attention.
Arrangements under the direction of McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville, and Lester H. Wedekindt Funeral Home in Kenmore, N.Y. Interment will be private.
Flowers are gratefully declined.
All memorials may be made to Central Park United Methodist Church in Buffalo.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, is in charge of arrangements.
Hattie Brooks Eanes
Hattie Brooks Eanes, born on July 21, 1910, went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 16, 2002, at the age of 91. She had lived in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., since 1991, after moving here from Lenoir, N.C., to live with her daughter. She was a member of College Avenue Baptist Church in Lenoir. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert, after 60 years of marriage, and by a son, Irvine.
She is survived by a daughter, Erna E. McCormac, of Fort Walton Beach; eight grandchildren, Nancy Sanders, Susan Bennett, John McCormac, Sara Holtz, Aline Redman, Lauren Eades, Karen Triplett, Diane Earwood; and 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Lillian Payne and Lillie Pierce, and one brother, Willie Brooks, all of Virginia.
Funeral services will be held in Lenoir at Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002, at 2 p.m. Visitation by family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Dr. C. David Boan, pastor of College Avenue Baptist Church, will officiate at the service. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Ella Mae Stiller
Ella Mae Stiller, a longtime resident of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., passed away Feb. 16, 2002, in the local nursing home. She was born on Nov. 1, 1910, in Washington County, Fla. Mrs. Stiller was a wonderful seamstress and homemaker. She was a loving mother and grandmother and was always ready to help anyone in need. She was Presbyterian by faith and a member of the Red Bay Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Stiller, father Joseph E. Howard, and mother Ellen Mary Renfroe Howard.
She is survived by her daughters Lucille Lynn of DeFuniak Springs, Geraldine Gaines of Franklin, Tenn., and Evelyn Helms of DeFuniak; six grandchildren, Dr. Kenneth Gaines of Franklin, Lamar Gaines of Franklin, Donald Helms Jr., of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., David Helms of Atlanta, Ga., Cathy Caswell of DeFuniak Springs and John Hicks of Destin, Fla.; 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Clary-Godwin Chapel.
Pallbearers for the service will be Tellis Rushing (honorary), Ed Gomillion, Walter Ray, Bill Ward, John Law, Sonny Yates and John Grantham.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Red Bay Cemetery Fund, c/o Tellis Rushing, 7494 State Highway 81 South, Ponce de Leon, Fla., 32455.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Edwin & Sue Brown
Edwin (Ed) Brown, lieutenant colonel retired, and Sue Underhill Brown passed away Feb. 16, 2002, due to a tragic automobile accident. They were both very active members of the community and will be greatly missed.
They are survived by a daughter, Patricia Guilds, and two sons, Christopher and Edwin Brown. Ed is also survived by three brothers, Robert Brown of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Donald Brown of Greensboro, N.C., and Richard Brown of Escondious, Calif. Sue is survived by a sister, Ann Underhill Brandt of Mobile, Ala., and many nieces and nephews and six grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held Thursday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home Chapel, 1405 John Sims Parkway, Niceville, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), in memory of Ed and Sue.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements and services.
